High-Level Speakers
H.E. Gaston Browne Prime Minister Antigua and Barbuda |
H.E. António Guterres Secretary-General United Nations |
H.E. Evelyn Wever-Croes Prime Minister Aruba |
H.E. Rania Al-Mashat Minister of International Cooperation, Egypt |
H.E. Amina J. Mohammed Deputy Secretary-General United Nations |
H.E. Urmas Reinsalu Minister of Foreign Affairs Estonia |
H.E. Franck Riester Minister of Foreign Trade and Economic Attractiveness, France |
Jutta Urpilainen Commissioner for International Partnerships European Union |
Redefining Business Leadership in a COVID-19 World
This year — five years after the adoption of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the start of the Decade of Action and Delivery of the SDGs — has presented a new set of unforeseen challenges. The social and economic cost of the pandemic have been exacerbated in many countries by environmental stressors and social unrest.
As companies struggle to maintain their footing in a COVID-19 world, some commentators have suggested the outlook for the global economy may have a chilling effecting on the adoption of sustainable business practices.
But, to the contrary, a new form of leader has emerged in this crisis – a generation of executives and rising professionals who understand that there are no successful businesses in a failed world. In this context, the private sector – in partnership with governments and civil society leaders – is leveraging the framework of the Sustainable Development Goals to respond to immediate threats in their communities, prepare for long term sustainability, and remedy the three critical fragilities which have been exposed by events of 2020: climate change and nature loss; social inequality; and economic exclusion.
The 2020 SDG Business Forum, held virtually on the margins of the 75th UN General Assembly, the 2020 Biodiversity Summit and the Beijing +25 Conference, is a platform for all stakeholders to come together for meaningful dialogue on the role of the private sector in addressing the current economic landscape and to co-create lasting solutions for a more sustainable future.
As companies struggle to maintain their footing in a COVID-19 world, some commentators have suggested the outlook for the global economy may have a chilling effecting on the adoption of sustainable business practices.
But, to the contrary, a new form of leader has emerged in this crisis – a generation of executives and rising professionals who understand that there are no successful businesses in a failed world. In this context, the private sector – in partnership with governments and civil society leaders – is leveraging the framework of the Sustainable Development Goals to respond to immediate threats in their communities, prepare for long term sustainability, and remedy the three critical fragilities which have been exposed by events of 2020: climate change and nature loss; social inequality; and economic exclusion.
The 2020 SDG Business Forum, held virtually on the margins of the 75th UN General Assembly, the 2020 Biodiversity Summit and the Beijing +25 Conference, is a platform for all stakeholders to come together for meaningful dialogue on the role of the private sector in addressing the current economic landscape and to co-create lasting solutions for a more sustainable future.
Featured Speakers
Henrietta Fore Executive Director UNICEF |
Achim Steiner Administrator UNDP |
Pamela Coke Hamilton Incoming Executive Director, ITC |
Paul Polman Vice Chair, UN Global Compact Honorary Chair, ICC Founder, Imagine |
Ajay Banga Chair, International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) Chief Executive Officer, Mastercard |
Bola Adesola Vice Chair, UN Global Compact Senior Vice-Chair, Standard Chartered Bank Nigeria |
Maria Fernanda Garza First Vice Chair ICC |
Sharan Burrow General Secretary ITUC |
Takeshi Niinami Chief Executive Officer Suntory |
Kerry Adler Chief Executive Officer SkyPower |
Ester Baiget Chief Executive Officer Novozymes |
Jesper Brodin Chief Executive Officer Ikea |
Jessica Cheam Managing Director Eco-Business |
Veronica de la Cerda Chief Executive Officer Triciclos |
Emmanuel Faber Chief Executive Officer Danone |
Italo Freitas Chief Executive Officer AES Tiete |
Christa Gyori Chief Executive Officer Leaders on Purpose |
James Mwangi Chief Executive Officer Equity Group Holdings |
Oscar Oyema Chief Executive Officer Nigerian Stock Exchange |
Jean-Pascal Tricoire Chief Executive Officer Schneider Electric |
Stephanie von Friedeburg Chief Operating Officer IFC |
Maggie Lake
Master of Ceremonies
Business Correspondent
Business Correspondent
About the Business Forum
As the largest and most globally representative UN convening of business leaders, the SDG Business Forum – co-hosted by the UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UN DESA), the UN Global Compact and the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) – highlights companies that are using their influence as a positive agent of change in their local communities and across the world.
Coinciding with the start of the UN’s Decade of Action and Delivery on the UN Sustainable Development Goals, the fifth anniversary of the SDG Business Forum will be held virtually on
23 September 2020.
Past SDG Business Forums have fostered public-private dialogues, catalysed new partnerships and alliances, and explored innovative business solutions to accelerate sustainable development.
Coinciding with the start of the UN’s Decade of Action and Delivery on the UN Sustainable Development Goals, the fifth anniversary of the SDG Business Forum will be held virtually on
23 September 2020.
Past SDG Business Forums have fostered public-private dialogues, catalysed new partnerships and alliances, and explored innovative business solutions to accelerate sustainable development.
Hosted By
John W.H. Denton AO Secretary-General, International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) |
Liu Zhenmin Under-Secretary-General, UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs |
Sanda Ojiambo Chief Executive Officer and Executive Director, UN Global Compact |
In Partnership With
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Partner Representatives
Itai Manyere President JCI |
Damilola Ogunbiyi Co-Chair UN Energy |
Halla Tómasdóttir Chief Executive Officer The B-Team |
Roberto Suarez Santos Secretary-General IOE |
Eva Zabey Executive Director Business for Nature |
Breakout Speakers and Moderators
Francisco Abad Guerra Executive Director CODEIS |
Dona Bertarelli Special Advisor UNCTAD |
Silvia Dias Lagnado Sustainable Growth Officer Natura & Co. |
Dewi Dylander Deputy Executive Director PKA |
Fran Katsoudas Chief People Officer Cisco |
Chebet Lesan Chief Executive Officer BrightGreen Energy |
George Nakayama Chairman Daiichi Sankyo |
Jane Nelson Corporate Responsibility Harvard Kennedy School |
Hiro Mizuno Independent Director Tesla |
Danny Sriskandarajah President, Great Britain Oxfam |
Chloe Targett-Adams Global Director Formula 1 |
Gail Tifford Chief Brand Officer Weight Watchers |
2020 Outline Agenda
All times in EDT
7:00 - 7:30 AM |
Opening Plenary |
7:30 - 8:30 AM |
Partnerships to Achieve the SDGs in the COVID-19 Era From partnering with UN agencies to deliver humanitarian aid to collaborating with competitors to develop tests, treatments and vaccines to providing crucial guidance, support and liquidity to others in their supply chains and their communities, leaders from the private sector understand that rebuilding the foundation to deliver on the SDGs will require innovative partnerships and unprecedented levels of cooperation. This session will explore transformational private sector led initiatives and collaborations which have saved lives and livelihoods in the midst of global crisis. |
9:00 - 10:00 AM |
Breakout Sessions & Networking In-depth breakout sessions on corporate efforts leveraging the frameworks of the SDGs to address three fragilities: climate change/nature loss; social inequalities; and economic exclusion. |
10:00 - 11:00 AM |
Reducing Inequalities through Principled Leadership In order to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals, dynamic leaders with clear visions are needed to develop actionable strategies that drive progress towards reducing inequalities and enabling opportunity for all. In the private sector, staff at all levels contribute to this effort in the workplace and improve quality of life within their communities. This session will explore best practices in enabling professional development and how professionals at all levels can take action to advance implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals. |
11:30 - 12:30 PM |
Breakout Sessions & Networking In-depth breakout sessions on corporate efforts leveraging the frameworks of the SDGs to address the three fragilities: climate change/nature loss; social inequalities; and economic exclusion. |
12:30 - 1:30 PM |
The Business Case for a Resilient Rebuild Business leaders – working in partnerships with governments and civil society groups – have played an outsize role in shaping the COVID-19 response. As we look to the recovery and rebuild, there is a clear economic imperative for leaders in the private sector to advocate and act on behalf of a resilient and sustainable future. With this insight, corporations are driving investment towards projects that align with the Sustainable Development Goals and are engineered to be fit for purpose in the long term. This session will explore new and existing initiatives to stabilize and reboot the economy and what actions are needed from all stakeholders to accelerate progress on this critical agenda. |
1:30 - 2:00 PM |
Closing Plenary |
Highlights from Business Forum
For more information about the 2020 SDG Business Forum, please contact us using the form below.
SDG Business Forum│23 September 2020
United Nations Headquarters - New York, NY 10017
#HLPF #SDGBIZ #SDGs @SDGBizforum
United Nations Headquarters - New York, NY 10017
#HLPF #SDGBIZ #SDGs @SDGBizforum